Paving the way for start of trial of the murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, a Delhi court on Saturday framed charges against five, including key accused Ravi Kapoor, for their alleged roles in the offence.
"There is prima facie sufficient evidence against the accused to proceed
with their prosecution," Additional Sessions Judge S K Sarvaria said.
The court, which would start recording testimonies of witnesses from April 23, said there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Kapoor under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act for running a syndicate of car-jackers.
Kapoor, along with Baljeet Singh Malik, Amit Shukla and Ajay Kumar, has also been charged under section 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.
Fifth accused Ajay Sethi has been charged under mild penal provison dealing with keeping stolen property.
Kapoor, who along with other three accused except Sethi, had tailed the journalist of Headlines Today channel, allegedly shot at her on the night of September 30 last year when she was returning home by her car from office at around 3:30 am.
Amit Kumar, counsel for the accused, said he would challenge the order on framing of charges in the Delhi High Court as the court did not consider the "glaring lapses" in the chargesheet.